Contributor: Okwudili Prince-Isaac

INTRODUCTION
It may be good to attempt to define God’s plan. The most concise and accurate definition of God’s eternal plan is found in the Westminster Confession of Faith, which reads:

“God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.”

God’s plan is greater than anything we can fully fathom because it is all designed to bring Him the maximum honor and glory. God’s sovereignty, knowledge, wisdom, love, and justice (to name a few) are all displayed in his plan of salvation (which is the door-way to fulfilment). The more we grasp this, the better we understand our own finitude and reliance on God, and ultimately fulfilment.

Psalm 1: 1-3
“[1] What delight comes to the one who follows God’s way. He won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat. [2] His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM”, meditating day and night on the true revelation of light. [3] He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by GOD’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous”. TPT

OTHER TEXTS
1. Eph. 1:3
2. Jer. 1:4
3. Jer. 29:11
4. Gen. 39:3
5. John 4:34
6. Gen. 18:19
7. Deut. 30:19
8. Josh. 24:15
As God’s creation He has a purpose for your life that if followed will reap maximum benefit for His glory. The majority of people live in frustration and despondency because they may not know God’s plan for their lives. What’s worse is that a few may know it but still choose to ignore/avoid it.

BENEFITS
Below are four benefits of following God’s plan for our lives:
1. Peace of mind
As children of God, we will have an internal compass that guides your decision-making based on the values of the word of God. This is the Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth revealing to us the mind of God. The Apostle John put it this way,

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13)

Even when situations don’t make sense but we have peace in your heart we can trust in God’s faithfulness. We just need to be obedient to what He commands us to do. But when we choose to do our own things instead of God’s, that when we experience trouble. A good example of this is Old Testament prophet Jonah whom God instructed to go to Nineveh to preach the word; He fled to Tarshish instead. The result of his disobedience was almost tragic as many people almost perished. Exact opposite of peace. He then repented of his disobedience and did what God told him to do in the first place.
When we contend for what we should be contending for, the result will be a peace the passes all understanding (Phil 4:6).

2. Blessing and increase
The ultimate purpose of life is to bring glory to God and advance God’s Kingdom agenda. He loves to show Himself mighty on our behalf so that the earth may know that there is a God in heaven. When we walk in obedience, He will validate our purpose by causing us to prosper. (Ps 1:3). There are numerous examples in the Bible such as Joseph (Gen 39:3). Others are Joshua, Moses and Daniel who experienced the blessing of God in such a way that it made the people they led to believe on the Lord.
The blessing was not just for these individual but for the benefit of those they led too. When we are careful to obey God’s will He will certainly bless us so that you become a blessing to those around us as well.

3. Joy at seeing changed lives
At the end of our race. what matters is the difference each of us would have made in other people’s lives. Can people point to you and say their lives have been that much better because you lived? Your work and everything we do is a form of ministry that impacts the people God puts in our life.
A general misconception in some places is that in order to minister to people a person must be a full-time Minister or have some other ministerial role. We can still minister to people outside that setting through our work in the marketplace, on the sports field, social work, classroom, etc. However, our life’s calling is our ministry and the people we serve can be likened to our congregation. So whatever God has called us to do is our ministry and His plan is for each of us to follow through on it so that we touch the people He has called us to serve. Therein lies a great measure of fulfilment (John 4:34).

4. Securing the destiny of future generations
Our choices today will have an impact on future generations and understanding the weight of that will help you make the right ones (Gen 12, Gen 18:19). Choosing to be selfless and doing what God commands you will attract a blessing to your life; blessings that will pass on to our children and generations after that.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”  Deut 30:19
The greatest legacy we can pass on is that of the faith (Josh 24:15). The blessing is passed to the third and fourth generation in our lineage. May our families point to us as the person that made a difference in our family’s history by seeking fulfilment following God’s plan and Word.

ROLL CALL OF PEOPLE WHO OBTAINED FULFULMENT IN GOD’S PLAN
1. Abraham (Gen 18:19)
2. Joseph (Gen 39)
3. Moses
4. Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14:24)
5. The Rechabites (Jer. 35)
6. King David (1 Kings 11:32-36)
7. Jeremiah the Prophet (Jer. 1:4)
8. Daniel (Daniel 6)
9. Apostle Paul (Phil 1:14)

EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WHO DEPARTED FROM GOD’S PLAN
1. Esau (Gen 25: 31-34)
2. Joab (2 Sam 3:29)
3. King Saul (1 Sam 15:9-28)
4. Samson (Judges 16)
5. The nation of Israel
6. Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-10, Acts 1:18)

CONCLUSION
Most products come with a manual from the manufacturer to give you a blueprint of how to use that product. Our lives are similar, and well planned out by God. God’s plan for creation is perfect and of the highest good, and produces the end for which it was ordained. Just as Jesus told His disciples, let our redeemed souls also testify “….my food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and complete it”. (John 4:34)

This is ultimate fulfilment.